Experience the Epic Roscoe Village Burger Festival in Chicago

Experience the Roscoe Village Burger Festival in Chicago

If you're a burger lover, you won't want to miss the annual Roscoe Village Burger Festival held each July in the lively Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago. This mouthwatering event celebrates that most quintessential of American foods - the burger - with gusto. Read on to learn all about this fabulous, free festival that brings together great food, drinks, music and fun.

What is the Roscoe Village Burger Festival?

The Roscoe Village Burger Festival is a one-day outdoor event held annually in mid-July along Roscoe Street in Chicago's charming Roscoe Village neighborhood. What started in 2011 as a small neighborhood block party has blossomed into a hugely popular burger extravaganza, featuring 20+ restaurants serving up delicious signature burgers.

Festival attendees purchase food tickets and then redeem them for burger samples from all the participating restaurants and food trucks. There's a lively competition for the best burger of the fest. Live music stages host bands and DJs, while an outdoor beer garden offers a great selection of craft beers and ciders. The family-friendly event also includes a kids' activities area.

When and Where is the Festival Held?

The Roscoe Village Burger Festival takes place every July along a closed-off stretch of Roscoe Street between Damen Ave and Ravenswood Ave in the Roscoe Village community area of North Center, Chicago. This section of Roscoe Street gets shut down to traffic for the day-long festival.

What's on the Menu at the Burger Fest?

The star attractions are obviously the mouthwatering specialty burgers served up by Chicago restaurants and food trucks. Past participating eateries have included Chicago favorites like Kuma's Corner, DMK Burger Bar and Owen & Engine. The gourmet burgers feature creative ingredients and toppings - think pretzel buns, fried eggs, homemade aiolis and craft cheeses.

In addition to the competition burgers that you can sample with tickets, vendors also sell classic burger fare like hot dogs, fries, nachos and chicken sandwiches. Cool off with a refreshing craft beer, cider or lemonade from the festival's outdoor beer garden. Of course, you'll want to save room for dessert - the fest offers tasty sweets from area bakeries and ice cream shops.

Who Performs at the Burger Fest?

While you feast on burgers, enjoy live music and entertainment on two outdoor stages. The festival books popular local bands and DJs covering a wide range of genres like rock, blues, jazz, reggae and more. In the past, bands like Commonwealth, Anthropic and Listing Ship have graced the Roscoe Village Burger Fest stages.

Family-Friendly Fun

The Roscoe Village Burger Festival offers plenty of fun for families and kids too. The Kid's Stage has child-friendly music acts and entertainment like jugglers, hula hoopers and magicians. Kids can enjoy activities like face painting, arts and crafts, balloon animals and more. And of course, kids love the burgers and ice cream too!

How to Attend the Festival

The Roscoe Village Burger Festival is completely free and open to the public! Just arrive hungry and ready for some great food and fun. Free parking is available in the neighborhood. The festival is easily accessible via public transportation too - just take the Brown Line or Metra to the Roscoe stop.

Dozens of vendors and thousands of hungry burger lovers descend on Roscoe Street for this hugely popular fest. Expect big crowds, so come early if you want the widest burger selection. Food ticket booths are set up around the perimeter of the festival area - stop here first to buy your food and drink tickets.

Bring sunscreen and dress for the unpredictable Chicago summer weather. Folding chairs and blankets are allowed. The festival goes on rain or shine, so only extreme weather will shut it down. Leave your furry friends at home - no pets are allowed.

Why Attend the Roscoe Village Burger Festival?

If you love burgers and live in Chicago, you simply can't miss this meaty extravaganza! Reasons not to miss the Roscoe Village Burger Festival:

• Sample 20+ creative gourmet burgers from Chicago's top restaurants and food trucks
• Vibe to live music from local bands on two outdoor stages
• Sip craft brews at the beer garden
• Kids' activities make it a family-friendly affair
• Absorb the fun, laidback energy of Roscoe Village
• Did we mention the burgers?!

The Roscoe Village Burger Festival celebrates community, great food and summer fun. Experience a true Chicago tradition at this popular local festival.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the festival hours?

The festival runs from 11am to 10pm on Saturday only. Get there early for the best burger selection.

What is there besides burgers?

You'll also find hot dogs, fries, nachos, ice cream, craft beer and more. Plus live music and family activities.

How do I get food and drinks?

You purchase food and drink tickets at booths around the perimeter, then redeem tickets at vendor booths.

Is the festival kid-friendly?

Definitely! There's a Kids' Stage with family entertainment, arts & crafts, face painting and more.

Can I bring my dog?

Sorry, no pets are allowed.

What about parking?

Free street parking is available in the Roscoe Village neighborhood.

Is the festival accessible via public transit?

Yes, take the Brown Line or Metra to Roscoe and walk to the festival.

FAQs

How much do tickets cost?

Food and drink tickets are sold in strips of 5 for $10. Individual tickets are $2 each.

What type of burgers can I expect?

Creative gourmet burgers with unique ingredients and toppings like fried eggs, pretzel buns, avocado, specialty cheeses and more.

What if it rains?

The festival goes on rain or shine. Only extreme weather will cause cancellation.

Can I bring my own beer/drinks?

No outside alcohol is allowed. Drinks must be purchased at the festival's beer garden.

Is the festival wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the festival area is flat and wheelchair friendly.